I have recently changed from risperidone to aripiprazole and I have sooo much more energy. It’s made me realised how sedated I’ve been for three years on risperidone. I realise energy or aka thesis is a symptom of changed antipsychotics. I haven’t been able to sit still all week and have been very creative and started a number of new hobbies and cooking elaborate meals for the family everyday haha. I’m enjoying actually not being lazy anymore, but it is a bit much if it carries on.
Anyway, I’m not sleeping too well on Ari. I wake up all through the night. Where as I loved risperidone for completely knocking me out all night, although I slept too much. I’ve read this can happen. Did it resolve for any of you or did you have to take another medication? I really don’t want a third. This is my first week on Ari and off risperidone. Nausea, vomiting and lots dissociation in the first week of withdrawal to add to the mix as well! Not so fun, but I do feel better now it’s settling down.
I’m thinking to maybe try weaning off antipsychotics if I need to take a third medication to sleep, but it’s probably not a good idea since i have many mental health conditions and some hypomania without. But for some reason my psychiatrist said I may not need them hmm… no idea why. But stay on sertraline for sure, although I know this alone can cause manic episodes for people like us. Something to think about perhaps for a later date..
Thanks xx
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Isabella5991
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Evening Isabella5991, thank you for sharing your experience with us. I had PP myself back in 2016, and I was also on Rispiridone which supported me hugely in getting better. That said I can absolutely relate to the sedative effect I also felt. It was interesting when my doctor said I could very slowly, under their guidance, reduce my dose. It was a very hard feeling to describe - but I felt a little like a fog was lifting in my decision making for example with each tiny adjustment. That said, being on the medication was absolutely the right thing for me, so I was grateful for it. Hugely so. I don’t have experience of changing medication I’m afraid, but hopefully others here on the forum will be able to offer their experiences.
I am glad you’re finding you’ve got some more energy. I’m sorry though to hear that at times sleeping can be tricky. Would you be able to talk this through with your health professionals maybe if it happens often and continues. Sleep was so so important in helping me to get better and also maintaining my little improvements I was making. Glad to hear you’ve a psychiatrist supporting you. I had a wonderful doctor in my second pregnancy, a lady I’ll never forget. Hopefully you feel really supported and able to take their advice and support. Hope your nausea and other symptoms ease soon.
Thinking of you, do write anytime. Take care, Rachel x
Thanks so much. I’m sorry you suffered as well, I’m glad you had a lovely doctor. It’s so special when you find one you really click with xx Yes I’m meant to be going under a team again, but haven’t heard from them for a couple weeks.. not great. Will phone doctors Monday and try sort out xx
I also wanted to check you’ve had your prolactin levels checked? I had to change to Ari because my prolactin was sky high on risperidone. I know not all of us will be the same, but I’m a bit annoyed they never mentioned this or checked for three years. God knows how long it’s been this high x
I really feel for you - medication changes can be so tricky as it's an imprecise science of trial and error for many of us unfortunately.
It does sound as though you've felt quite high and restless since starting on the Aripiprazole. I also found Aripiprazole quite alerting/energising - which as you say can be a welcome change to sedating medications, but can also cause concern. I'm so sorry you're going through this balancing act at the moment.
If you're feeling increasingly 'activated' and your sleep is poor, it definitely sounds worth talking to your mental health team about these concerns sooner rather than later.
Lots of teams have access to a specialist pharmacist - I found it so helpful working with a specialist pharmacist in hospital in 2018 when I last had a relapse, to talk through a range of medication options.
I was given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder about 10 years after first suffering from PP, and eventually found the combination of a mood-stabiliser + antidepressant most effective for me personally than antipsychotic + antidepressant. Unfortunately we're all so individual that what works for one person is often different from another.
Hope you're able to catch up with your mental health team soon, we're all here if you need to chat
Thank you for this! Specialist scientist sounds interesting. I’ll take a look, thank you.
Im feeling less high today, so perhaps I’m balancing out. Although I woke in the night and had a shake, it was a bit odd.. hopefully nothing serious. Did you experience that at all? Xx
When first re-starting Olanzapine after my second daughter was born, I did have one evening where my body was shaking which felt very scary at the time. I was really worried that it might be dyskinesia - but the reaction then didn't happen again for me after that first evening.
I had a look at the NHS guidance on side-effects of aripiprazole and it does recommend seeking advice straight away if you are feeling disinhibited, experiencing muscle spasms, or restless movements as you've described in your messages:
(I've copied the information that sounds most relevant to what you've described below)
Call your doctor or call 111 now if you:
find it difficult to control your impulse or temptation to do something that could harm you or others, such as gambling too much, increased sex drive, uncontrollable shopping, binge eating, or a tendency to wander away
get problems with your movement such as feeling like you need to move all the time, difficulty moving or stiff muscles that make your movements jerky
get uncontrollable movements of your mouth, tongue or limbs
I know it can be tricky when you're hanging on to see if things settle down, but it does sound as though getting checked the side-effects checked out would be recommended. I'm so sorry that it's not easy at the moment - each change of medication can come with such an emotional rollercoaster of hoping for improvement, being alert to side-effects, monitoring mood and so on.
Hope you can get hold of some professional advice soon, let us know how things go - we're all here to support you.
Thank you for This! I’m glad yours settled down xx
Mine did too after that first night and I’m feeling much more calm now. No dissociation so I think the meds have settled a lot. But thank you for the information! I will bear it all in mind xx
Hello Isabella I am sorry to hear you are going through the stress that comes with medication changes. Have you ever used the bipolar uk app? The reason I ask is it has a mood scale that allows you to see where you might be mood wise. I swear by it as it's helped me reach out for help when I needed it. I remember feeling the way you do. All that energy and lack of sleep can tip you into mania. Well that is what my experience was. Sleep is a powerful currency for those of us with bipolar too much can be depression and too little can tip is into mania.
I myself have been on both of those meds. I didn't tolerate either of them. But we are all different and I am hoping abilify works for you in the long run.
When it comes to using a sleeping tablet that is your own choice but it may help you get some rest. I hope you have a good day today and enjoy relaxing in one way or the other.
Thanks so much for your reply. Yes I agree, it could tip us into mania but I’m actually feeling less high today so I could be balancing out now xx which meds have worked for you if you don’t mind sharing?
I am sure that is a relief you are feeling more settled today. Currently I am on lithium and quetapine and I also take a sleeping tablet when I can't sleep. It's very isn't it trying to get the right meds so we can live a good life. Both the meds I am on do make me sleep really well and sometimes I feel tired. But I can live with these side effects as it means I can live as good a life as possible. You are doing great for posting here and I am so glad you have energy and a zest for life back. Hope you have a good day and remember what meds work for me might not work for you. I think abilify is known for giving our brains a push to do things. Take care ❤️
Hello there I found your reply to Isabella really helpful. I don't tolerate any antipsychotics well at all. I have tried aripriprozole, olanzapine, clopixal, Haloperidol, risperidone and lithium on all of them I get deeply depressed, feel suicidal, agitation, anxiety, restlessness and worst of all chronic insomnia. The NHS doctors that I see just keep adding more medication and I feel like I'm on a cocktail of highly powerful drugs with dangerous side effects. The doctors on the NHS do not support me coming off meds and feel I need to be on them for life whereas I've seen two private psychiatrist s one who believes that the drugs are harming me and I should come off very gradually now and another who believes that I could think about coming off in 6months to one year. I don't know what to do as my drugs disable me and I don't know what to do. No one explained that the drugs are very hard to come off once you're on them. Or what side effects you could get to me.
I'm on aripiprazole and I got that restlessness when I started it. I couldn't stop moving my legs, it was awful. I don't tolerate antipsychotics well so aripiprazole was just about the last one for me to try, so I agreed to them adding procyclidine for the restlessness and it works so well for me.
I hope the side effects die down for you and it works as well for you as it does for me.
Oh my gosh it’s intense isn’t it!! Sorry you had it too and I’m glad you found something that helped keep it at bay. I’m feeling more relaxed now luckily x
Hi Sue I also don't tolerate antipsychotics well either at all really horrendous side effects for me. I would like to come off but the psychiatrists don't agree on the NHS but I have found a private doctor who thinks that I should come off. I don't know what to do as I now have a diagnosis for Bipolar. I am not a fan of psychiatric medication because I've had such bad side effects on them. I literally can't work or do very much at all and I'm disabled and bed ridden. When I tell the NHS doctors they want to put me on more medication.
That sounds hard. I also have a diagnosis of bipolar and am on a mood stabiliser (lithium) alongside the antipsychotic. Are you on a mood stabiliser? Unfortunately they tend to come with side effects (lithium causes a mild tremor and some hair loss for me, but I put up with it because it eases my mood swings).
Hi Isabella , my name is Jo and I am on antipsychotics. I've latest been in 4MG of Haloperidol since February and I'm having horrendous side effects. Most notable has been insomnia, depression and the feeling that I'm.climbing the walls. I have not felt good on these at all and when I've tried to wean off these have had equally horrendous withdrawl symptoms. How is your insomnia? Yes I had my first episode of psychosis after a prescription of Ciprimil which is an antidepressant it sent me high as you've noted. I would say to keep as your doing and if your doctor feels you can do without antipsychotics then that's worth a try. I feel as though I'll never find a meds that agrees with me and every antipsychotic that I've tried has always had horrendous side effects for me.
I'm sorry you've struggled a lot with side effects from the medication you've tried. I am currently on Olanzapine and Venlafaxine and am just struggling with some tiredness, but nothing else thank goodness, and I am thankful that they helped massively when I had a relapse earlier this year, and they are really helping me to sleep well, which I know is essential for my wellbeing.
I wonder if you could get some good support from Bipolar UK as well, I know they have support groups and an e-community as well
I’m so sorry to hear of your awful struggle on the meds. Sounds terrible! I struggle to work too because of anxiety and possible autism but I’m trying to do part time work soon to see if I can manage it. I’m looking to be a support worker and eventually mental health nurse but again I’ll only ever work 2 or 3 days because of my mental health. Could you look into working as a peer supporter part time. I think bipolar uk sometimes have jobs going or other mental health charities do too. If you could manage it, they would totally understand your mental health needs which could work out pretty well. As for the meds I want to try without antipsychotics one day too. It’s probably a stupid idea as I’m not well at all without meds, even prior psychosis episode. But I’d stay on sertraline or maybe something else that doesn’t induce mania. Is there something a bit more neutral you could try? Sorry if that’s a silly question, it sounds like you’ve exhausted many options. I hope your private psychiatrist can help you figure out what it is you need that works loads better for you xx
I am feeling much better now I’ve been on aripiprazole for three weeks. The sickness is starting to lessen. I’ve calmed down and sleeping better. I did phone back earlier in the week as the symptoms were still pretty bad but she said let’s try a couple more weeks. How long have you stuck out each med? I’m sorry if you’ve tried for ages but they still don’t work! Xx
Hi Isabella, what a lovely message from you. I've been trying to find a mental health peer job for a while. My local MIND has jobs but these are only at the crisis cafe in the evening from 5 to 11pm and I can't function well after about 5pm. I do think some non taxing work would be good for me so I'm not isolated. How do you spend your time when you're not working? I get horrendously lonely.
Hi Isabella, what a lovely message from you. I've been trying to find a mental health peer job for a while. My local MIND has jobs but these are only at the crisis cafe in the evening from 5 to 11pm and I can't function well after about 5pm. I do think some non taxing work would be good for me so I'm not isolated. How do you spend your time when you're not working? I get horrendously lonely.
So sorry to hear you’re lovely. It’s so tough. I know how that feels. Been a full time mum for seven years I’ve gone a lot of time without much adult interaction which can be really tough. Now both girls are in school I’ve been having fun getting crafty. I’ve been exploring a lot with flower pounding and naturally tie dying kids clothes with plants. It’s been really nice. I love wild swimming but haven’t been for a few weeks. I did a course in agriculture this year as I’m obsessed with farming and animals and that was really fun. It was only a couple days a week so it was manageable. I really encourage you to figure out what your passions might be and perhaps look into a course! Something part time, relaxed and you can make some friends xx
I'm so sorry you are getting so many side effects from the meds, and are also struggling with loneliness and isolation. That is very hard.
Yes, I work part time for APP, which is a lovely job to have.
I haven't been given an ongoing diagnosis, just being treated for a relapse I had at the beginning of the year, I had remained well for 11 years after pp. I had a relapse because of a specific situation, where I became very physically unwell with a virus and couldn't sleep. I know I have to be very careful with my sleep, I think it affects me a lot just missing one or two nights of sleep.
I do hope you can find a psychiatrist who can help you, and you can also find things to help with the isolation and loneliness - perhaps hobbies, or groups you could be part of? Bipolar UK may be a great help to you?
HI Ellie, what a lovely encouraging message. Thank you. I am the same with sleep and I have realised that because I was unwell when I was prescribed the meds I wasnt told anything about side effects or how to withdraw from the meds in the future if I wanted to. I am finding out more about these meds now and everyone is so different. It clear that some people are ok with minor effects and others like me have a horrendous time on any antipsychotics. Working for APP sounds like a really lovely job and it helps keep you connected not only with the ladies but their famillies and the researchers.
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Hoping for some advice:)
Medication query for relapse episode 
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